“At the Edge of the Sea,” By Karen M. Cox/ A Review

When our love for two people forces us to make an unwanted decision, how do we balance our hearts and our minds to take us in the direction that’s right for us?

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

With so many JAFF readers recently enjoying Beau North’s debut book, “Longbourn’s Songbird,” I wanted to share with our readers an award-winning modern JAFF book that I believe JAFF readers will love as well! Karen M. Cox, currently an author of three modern-day JAFF novels, has written this story that takes place during a similar timeframe as “Longbourn’s Songbird,” but with a whole different cast of characters, in a setting that feels as vintage and as accessible as “Longbourn’s Songbird.”

For me, this story was such a blast from the past in our nation’s history! Here we meet young Lizzy Quinlan and Billie Ray Davenport, two young people trying to figure out the paths to take in their own young lives, while attempting to define their relationship with each other, in this “Pride and Prejudice” modern variation, set within 1959 small town America.

The story is told through Billy Ray’s POV, beginning when he shows up as the new guy in town. He has come to spend the summer serving as an intern to the town doctor before Billy Ray himself leaves to study medicine. Granted some newfound freedom as he stays in his own apartment, we learn about his reactions to meeting Lizzy, how Charles’ sister drives him crazy by hanging all over him, (think Caroline Bingley in a tight sweater,) and how Billy Ray struggles to understand his uncertain feelings towards Lizzy Quinlan.

As we learn from the onset, small town equals even smaller minds, and boy oh boy, do the residents of Orchard Hill have their minds made up about Lizzy Quinlan! Poor Lizzy has been the victim of malicious town gossip, from all four corners within her hometown. Everywhere she turns, she can’t escape the reminders of her past. Young people blatantly malign her, and most of the older town folks look past her… all because of a mistake she made long ago with her very own heart.

Yet, as we come to know Billie Ray Davenport, he shows us why he’s unique from so many other young men. His upbringing as the preacher’s son has given him a different perspective from other people, especially in regards to Lizzy. Here’s a young man, willing to take the time to reflect upon Lizzy’s actions, and not just base his opinions on her abrasive tone. He’s also willing to learn her side of her story, as he attempts to reconcile the Lizzy he has befriended, with the girl that everyone seems to enjoy gossiping about all over Orchard Hill.

Naturally, part of this is because, as a man, he’s immediately drawn to Lizzy’s physical presence. From the moment he sees her, he’s taken in by her lively spirit, as well as the way she looks in her form-fitting outfits. So, as the preacher’s son, he soon finds that he is torn between reconciling his heart, his mind, and his desires.

After spending the long, hot days of summer together, Lizzy and Billy Ray develop a friendship that takes a turn towards something deeper, yet this move requires them to make some difficult decisions involving their own futures… Eventually, these decisions take Billie Ray and Lizzy down a path that’s typically “less traveled” by the residents of their hometown, in an effort to gain some well-needed distance from their tumultuous relationship. But, will this decision tear them apart, as they explore their true feelings towards each other, or bring them closer to a future that they can both feel confident and passionate about as a couple?

Billie Ray must also come to terms with his relationship with his own father. As the son of a preacher, Billie Ray has been raised to judge people and their situations, in a rather conservative manner. As a widower, his father has played a significant role in his upbringing, and yet, it is now these very same values and ideals that threaten to tear their relationship apart. I think most of us can empathize with this type of struggle, as so often, people experience similar conflicts within their own families. When our love for two people forces us to make an unwanted decision, how do we balance our hearts and our minds to take us in the direction that’s right for us? Can Lizzy leave Orchard Hill behind so that she can allow her future, and not only her past, to define the woman that she will become?

The references to “Pride and Prejudice” were fundamentally well done. These little details enhanced the story while the struggles our dear couple endured felt just as significant within this 1959 American setting, as they did in Regency England. As readers, we witness how our backgrounds and/or our own families can either keep two people in love apart from one another or enable them to cement their lives together in hope and optimism.

Quite a few of the new characters that Karen created for this story made me feel like I was also making some wonderful new friends. Mrs. Gardener, the mysterious medicine woman, and friend to Lizzy Quinlan, shows readers how things have certainly changed within modern marriages, as well as how difficult these changes were for men and women alike. Marlene (the Miserable,) as I like to think of her, was fun to hate and gave me moments where I laughed out loud in the story!

Regardless of the time, or the setting, “Pride and Prejudice” is also a story about one’s own personal struggles to come to terms with who he/she is, combined with what this means within the world that he/she lives within. To pave a course that looks very different from others, requires courage, fortitude, and love. We have this story and more, here in the book, “At the Edge of the Sea.” With currently all five and four-star reviews on Amazon.com, this is a modern JAFF not to be missed!

I certainly look forward to reading more modern JAFF from Karen M. Cox!

To take a walk down memory lane, Southern style, 1959 America, check out this Pinterest board.

I want to thank Karen M. Cox for writing modern JAFF that helped me fall in love with this sub-genre. I also want to give her a big hug of gratitude for being a supporter of this blog from the very first day…

I have read all three of those, Lúthien, And enjoyed them as well. Yes, I appreciate reviews of older books as well as new releases. Meredith on her blog, just brought up two books I had never heard of before – anthologies from Chawton. So we can learn of prizes from the past, which may have evaded our notice.

Oops! The above comment was made concerning Karen Cox’s books…sorry, I commented on the wrong page.

In relation to older books-it’s a great idea but I don’t have many suggestions.
I would gladly read any reviews on books written by Brenda J Webb( F.Darcy-An Honourabke Man),Kara Louise ( Only Mr Dstcy will do,Darcy’s Voyage), Lory Lilian ( the perfect match), Abagail Reynolds ,Regina Jeffers ( Darcy’s Passions), Susan Adriani, (KaraLynne M. and Joanna S ate probably too new ).
Hope this list was of some help… Apologies if not.

I was thrilled and honored you wanted to review ‘At the Edge of the Sea’ here at JustJane1813! -especially as it is an older release (2013). I love all my ‘story-babies’ but AtEotS tugged at my heart and wrung it out. lol I fell in love with Lizzy and Billy Ray, both separately and as the couple they made. Their story was a joy to write!

I have to admit, I wasn’t excited to read modern JAFF variations, yet the ones I have read, have been wonderful. So many of the themes touched upon in this book are still relevant for people, especially women, today, which made it an even more gratifying and interesting read for me. I also read “1932” and it was a great read as well!

I was glad to see this review because I haven’t read any of Karen Cox’s books and was curious about them. I got 1932 and Find Wonder in All Things and didn’t know about this one. Looks like I’ll really like. I’ll get the others read first like a good girl before I snag this one. 🙂 It sounds full of depth of feeling and the time period is a draw.

As to older books reviewed and up for giveaways, I’m all for the idea. Because if the reader hasn’t encountered them then they are new to them. There are many that I have on my wishlists to try still and am curious about.
Let’s see if I can pick a few that I’ve not seen reviewed or at least not recently… Rebecca Ann Collins, Shannon Winslow, Juliet Archer, Claire LeZebnik (YA), Elizabeth Ashton, Ola Wegner, Tess Quinn, Marsha Altman, Susan Adriani, Melanie Schertz, Elizabeth Ann West, Debra White Smith, Ophelia London’s Definitely Maybe series, Jennifer Becton, Nancy Kelley, Wendi Sotis, Kara Louise, Gail McEwan, Vera Nazarian, Cynthia Hensley, Anne Elliot, Tracy Kiely, Carrie Bebris, Barbara Tiller Cole, Rosie Rushton, Jenni James (YA), Kim Wilson’s non-fiction books, Joan Aiken, Julia Barrett.

Wow! That’s quite a list! I hope to fill in some of these gaps over time. I’m planning to do a Kara Louise review next week. I also have some plans for Marsha Altman’s series. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I haven’t read anything by Karen Cox so I appreciate this review. There are so many great JAFF books and authors out there that I don’t want to miss, so older titles would be most welcome. Here’s a quick list of 10 that I’ve been meaning to read and would like to see reviewed:
Darcy Goes to War by Mary Simonsen
Fitzwilliam Darcy an Honorable Man by Brenda Webb
Lady Vernon and her Daughter by Jane Rubino (actually read this and recommend it)
The Secret Betrothal by Jan Hahn
Wickham’s Diary by Amanda Grange
Ladies of Longbourn series by Rebecca Ann Collins
The Unexpected Miss Bennett by Sarah Patrice
The Pursuit of Mary Bennett by Pamela Mingle
The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fariview
Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken

Great list Kim! I will try to review the Jan Hahn book soon. Karen Cox was a later discovery for me too, and since reading two of her books, I will continue to read more from her. Meredith at Austenesque recently reviewed the Brenda Webb book that you listed here, and she really enjoyed the book.I will keep your other titles in mind for future reviews.

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[…] in their own cat-and-mouse game. Please welcome Karen Cox, author of several books, including “At the Edge of the Sea,” to Just Jane 1813 today and feel free to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this […]

[…] a few awards for them as well. Whether you read her debut book, 1932, or her coming-of-age story, At the Edge of the Sea, or her latest release, Undeceived, you’ll find yourself immersed in a whole new era with […]

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